Fire box for locomotive boilers



Jan. 17, 1928. 1,656,475 G. H. EMERSON ET AL FIRE BOX FOR LOCOMOTIVE BOILERS Filed Aug. 16, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 17, 1928. 1,656,475

G.H. EMERSON ET AL FIRE BOX FOR LOCOMOTIVE BOILERS Filed Aug. 16, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 17, 1928. G. H. EMERSON ET AL FIRE BOX FOR LOCOMOTIVE BOILERS Filed Aug. 16, 1925 s Sheets-Shet a Patented Jan. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,656,475 PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. EMERSON AND OLIVER C. CROMWELL, F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

FIRE BOX FOB LOCOMOTIVE BOILERS.

Application filed August 16, 1923. Serial No. 657,692.

Our invention relates to fire boxes for locomotives.

Among the ob ects of our inventlon are To provide a fire box equipped with upper.

and lower headers and a plurality ofrwater tubes connecting said headers, the whole being so arranged that it can be used wlth the cylinder of the ordinary locomotive boiler having fire tubes I-Ieretofore, in attempting to equip a fire box with headeis and water tubes connecting said headers, the headers have been made cylindrical in cross section and the water tubes have been swedged into the cylindrical wall of said headers. This necessitated the presence of a workman on the inside of said headers and as said headers were necessarily restricted n diameter the swedging of the water tubes in said headers was a very difficult mechanical operation. For this reason, great difficulty has'heretofore existed not only in constructing fire boxes with headers and water tubes but also in cleaning said tubes, 1n aga n swedging the ends of the water tubes in sa d header should the joints become loose, and in replacing Worn-out tubes with new ones. Difiiculty also existed in assembling the headers with the back water leg and the tube sheet of the locomotive.

. swedged and'locating said extensions in such relation to the exterior of the fire box that the tubes can be readily swedged in place, not only when the boiler is being constructed, but also at any time during the life of the boiler when the joints between the water tubes and the headers leak; or when worn water tubes are to be replaced by new ones, without the presence of a workman upon the interior of the headers; and to locate said extensions in such relation to the outside of the fire box that access can be readily had to the interior of the Water tubes for the purpose o-f cleaning scale and sediment from the interior of said tubes.

To provide lower headers of such shape and to so locate said headers that the water tubes may be readily swedged therein,- inspected, cleaned or removed without the and the back water leg so that they may be readily united with the headers.

' T o dispense with the ordinary crown sheet of the fire box of alocomotive and substitute therefor headers connecting the tube sheet and the back Water leg locating the union between said tube sheet and headers so that To dispense with the ordinary crown sheet of the first box of a locomotive andsubstisheet and the back Water leg shaping said headers so as to secure the maximum steaming surface for the contained water.

To provide amcthod for assembling the back Water leg, the headers, the tube sheet and the water tubes so that the same can be assemblodat a minimum cost.

These and further objects of our inventron will be set forth inthe following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and the novel means by which said objects are eflectuated and the novel method by which elements of our improved fire box are assembled together and assembled with the remaining parts of the boiler will be definitely pointed out in the clalms. In the drawings Figure l is a central longitudinal section of our improved fire box also showing a portion of the cylinder part of a locomotive boiler.

Fig. 2 is a section as by a plane represented by the line 2-2 in Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3" is a section as by a plane represented by the line 3-3 in Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a section of a variation in the form of our improved headers, the section being in the same plane as in Fig. 2.

Fig. dis a section as by a plane represented by the line 5-5 in Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows. In this view the tubes 93 are omitted for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view along the line 66 in Fig. 1, lookingin the direction of the arrows.

In the drawings 5 is the cylinder part of the boiler which i is formed 1n any approved manner. The

'tute theretorheaders connecting the tube waist 6 is provided with a front flange 7 which embraces the shell of the boiler and is secured thereto in any approved manner. The waist 6 is also provided with a rear flange 8 for a purpose hereinafter explained.

In forming our improved firebox, we. first form a tube sheet 9 and provide the .same with a plurality of holes in the usual manner lot the reception of the fire tubes 10. The sheet 9 is provided with a peripheral flange 11, with flanges 12-12 for the reception of the lower headers 13-13 and with a flange 14, for the reception of the left upper header 1?, central upper header 18 and right upper header 1%). Ve then form a back water leg 20 which is composed of a front plate 21 having the peripherallv flange 22, flanges similar to 23 for the reception of the rear ends of the lower headers 1313, a flange similar to 14 for the reception of the rear ends of the upper headers 17, .18 and 19 and a lire door flange 25, and a rear plate 26 having the peripheral flange 27 and a fire door flange 28.

We then place the headers 13.13 and 17, 18 and 19 within the flanges 12-12 and 14, respectively, of the tube sheet 9 and within the flanges 23 and 24, respectively, of the front plate 21 of the back water leg 20 and then weld, bolt, rivet or otherwise secure all of said flanges to said headers. Since the parts of ourimproved fire box may be united in different ways we shall not hereinafter state any particular manner of effecting their union. We then unite the' peripheral flange 22 of the front plate 21 to the peripheral flange 27 of the rear plate 26 and unite the fire door flanges and 28.

We then unite the filler 29 to the extensions 30 and 31 of the headers 17 and 18 and to the upper and lower portions of the flange 14, and unite the filler 32 to the extensions 33 and 34 of the headers 18 and 19, respee-' tively, and to the upper and lower portions of the flange 14. We also unite fillers similar to 29 and 32 to the extensions 30 and 31 and 33 and 34, respectively, and to the upper and lower portions of the flange 24.

We then place the peripheral flange 11 of the tube sheet 9 over the flange 8 which may already or thereafter be united to the cylinder part 5 of the boiler, conform the flange 11 to the flan e 8 and unite these flanges.

The fire tu 10 may then be secured to the tube sheet 9 in the usual or any approved manner. We then place the water tubes in position as hereinafter explained.

It is tobe noted that by reason of the coinparatively high position of the underside of the headers 17, 18.and 19 with reference to the position of the crown sheet in the ordina fire box, we are enabled to place more fire tubes 10 in the tube sheet 9 than could be placed therein if the ordinary fire box The headers 17, 18 and 19 being similar to each other, only one of vthem will be described.

The header 18 is approximately cylindrical in cross section and is provided with the side extensions 31 and 33. Strengthening plates35 and 36 are united to the cylinder part of said header and extend across the extensions 31 and 33, respectively, in order to prevent the steam pressure from spreading these extensions. Holes 37 are provided in the plates 35 and 36 in order to provide for steam and water circulation between the cylindrical portion of the header 18 and the extensions thereof.

The bottom-of the extension 31 is provided with a plurality of holes for the reception of water tubes 38 and the bottom of the extension 33 is provided with a plurality of holes. for the reception of the water tubes 39. Similarly, the bottom of the extension 30 of the header 17 is provided with a plurality of holes for the reception of the water tubes 40 and the bottom of the extension 41 of said header is provided with a plurality of holes for the reception of the water tubes 42. The bottom of the extension 34 of the header 19 is provided with holes for the reception of the water tubes 43 and the bottom of the extension 44 of said header is provided with a pluralityjofholes for the reception of the water tubes 45.

The header 18 is formed in two parts. The lower part comprises the part.- 47 of the body portion. the side flanges 48 and 49 formed on'said part and the flange 50 and 51 formed on the flanges 48 and 49. respectively. The upper part comprises the part 52 of the body portion, the side flanges 53 and 54 formed on said part and the flanges 55 and 56 formed on the flanges 53 and 54.

respectively. The flanges 50 and 51 are tele scoped respectively with the flanges 55 and 56 and the telescoped flanges are united and the plates 35 and'36 united to the parts 47 and 52..

W'e will now describe a variationin the form of our improved header such as is shown in Figs. 4 and 5 hereof. In said figures the headeis 64, 65 and 66 have similar functions to the headers 17. 18 and 19. but instead of being formed separately. said headers are formed of an, upper sheet having body portions 6", 68 and 69 for the headers 64, 65 and 66, respectively, anda lower sheet having body portions 70,71 and 72 for the headers 64, 65 and 66. respectively. The upper sheet is provided with depressed portions 73 and 74 which together with the raised portions 75 and 76 of the lower sheet termed necks between the headers 64 and formed with side flanges 81 and 82 and end flanges 83 and 84 formed on said side flanges, respectively. The end flanges 79 and 80 are telescoped with and united to the end flanges 83 and 8%, respectively, and stay bolts 85 and 86 are secured in the depressed portion 7 3 and u raised portion 75, and in the depressed portion 74 and raised portion 76, in order-to prevent the bursting stress from expanding these portions.

Plates such as 87 provided with holes 88 are secured between the body portions 67 and 70, 68 and 71, and 69 and 72 to prevent the bursting stress from expanding the extensions 89 and 90 and the necks 91 and 92.

The headers 64, 65 and 66 are to be mounted in the flanges 14 and 24 in a manner similar to that heretofore explained with reference to the headers 17, 18 and 19, excepting that, owing to the fact that the upper and lower plates of the headers 64, (i5 and 66 are continuous, no fillers similar to 29 and 32 are necessary and it is unnecessary to use fire bricks such as 57 and 58 for the prevention of the egress of gases from the fire box.

Water tubes such as 93 are secured in the lower plate in similar locations and for similar purposes as hereinbefore set forth and explained with reference to the headers 17, 18 and 19, and the lower ends of the tubes 93 are to be secured in headers similar to the headers 13. The upper plate is to be provided with threaded holes such as 94. in order to provide access to the ends of said tubes.

For the purpose of strengthening the depressions 7 3 and 7 4 and the elevations 75 and 76, ribs such as 95 are formed therein leaving flat surfaces such as 96 between said ribs for the placement of the tubes 93 and the holes 94. 7

The tops of the lower headers 1313 are 'providedwith pluralities of holes for the reception of the lower ends of the water tubes and the bottoms of said lower headers are provided with threaded holes in alignment with said holes for the reception of plugs 46.

After the tube sheet, back water leg, headers, cylinder part of the boiler and fire tubes are assembled as hereinbefore set forth, the water tubes are to have their ends laced in the holes in the bottoms of the si e extensions of the upper headers and in the holes in the tops of the lower headers and said ends are then to be swedged or otherwise operated upon in order to secure them to said extensions and lower headers.

After the water tubes are secured, the plugs 46 are screwed in place.

A fire brick 57 is then placed upon the headers 17 and 18 for heat insulation and in order to prevent the egress of gases from the fire box through the opening between the extensions 30 and 31. A fire brick 58 is placed upon the headers 18 and 19 for similar purposes.

Fire bricks 59, 60, 61 and 62 are then placed around the remaining part of the fire box for heat insulationand in order to prevent the egress of gases from the fire box. Sheet heat insulation '63 is then placed aroundthe fire box and over this is laid a metallic covering 64.

We have not shown a grate in our improved. tire box, but it is to be understood The upper headers 17 18 and 19 and 64:,

65 and 66 are shown similarly formed, but it is obvious that they may be made of dis-.

similar shapes. We have shown these headers as having a body portion cylindrical in cross section and provided with side extensions or necks, but it is obvious that other suitable shapes maybe employed in lieu of those shown. For certain forms of boilers, the side extensions or necks may be omitted.

In any shape'employed for the headers, the essential feature is that holes be formed therein for the reception of the water tubes in such relation to other holes permitting access to the ends of said tubes that said tubes may be readily swedged or otherwise secured in .place without necessitating the presence of the workmanon the interior of the header. v

While we have shown our improved fire box as applied to the cylinder part of an ordinary locomotive boiler, yet it is to be understood that the improved headers herein shown and the combinations of said headers with the other elements of our invention may be used in boilers of various types for various purposes, whether said boiler is composed in whole of our improved headers and water tubes or com osed partly of our improved headers com loined with water tubes and'a boiler shell and tube plates with fire tubes extending between saidtubes and plates. i

We have shown our improved fire boxes formed of lower and upper headers, tube sheet, front water leg, water tubes and re- 7 movable plugs, but it is to be understood that the forms of said elements and the combination thereof are for purposes of illustrationonly and in no-wise to limit the scope of our invention. Many changw may be made in said elements and in the combinations thereof and in the steps of the method by which we form our improved fire box without departing from the spirit of our invention.

We claim 1. In a tire box for a boiler, the combina tion with the tube sheet and back water leg, of upper and lower headers connecting said tube sheet and leg to form passages between said sheet and said leg, each of said upper headers comprising side extensions formed by a continuation of the header shell and having holes in the bottoms and tops thereof,

water tubes, each having one end secured in a hole in (the bottom of one of said extensions and the other end connected to one of said lower headers, and removable plugs mounted in the holes in the tops of said extensions. V

2. In a tire box for aboiler, the combination with the tube sheet and back water leg, of upper and lower headers connecting said tube sheet and leg to form passages between said sheet and said leg, each of said upper headers comprising side extensions formed by a continuation of the header shell and having holes in the bottoms and tops thereof, water tubes, each having one end secured in a hole in the bottom of one of said extensions and theothcr end connected to one of said lower headers, and plugs screwed in the holes in the tops of said extensions.

3. In a fire box for a boiler, the combination with the tube sheet and back water leg, of upper and lower headers connecting said tube sheet and leg to form passages between said sheet and said leg, each of said upper headers comprising side extensions formed by a continuation of the header shell and having holes in the bottoms and tops thereof, said lower headers having holes in the bottoms and tops thereof, water tubes each having one end secured in a hole in the bottom of one of said extensions and the other end secured in a hole in the top of one of said lower headers, and removable plugs mounted in the holes in the tops of said extensions and the bottoms of said headers.

4. In a fire box for a boiler, the combination with the tube sheet and back water leg, of upper and lower headers connecting said tube sheet and leg to form between said sheet andsaid leg, said upper headers comprising integral side extensions, water tubes connecting said extensions and lower headersrsaid sheet and 1 having flanges embracing and united to said upper headers and the bottoms and tops of the extensions thereof and to the sides of the extensions adjacent the sides of the fire box, and fillers united to said flan and to the abutting sides of the remaimng extensions.

5. In a fire boxfor'a tion with the tube sheet and back water leg, oi ,up r and lower headers connecting sud tube s act and leg to form p between said sheet and said leg, each of said upper boiler, the-combinatubes in the fire box headers comprising side extensions formed by a continuation of the header shell, and water tubes connectin said extensions and lower headers, said sleet and leg having flanges embracing and united to said headers and extensions.

6. A header for use in mounting water tubes in the tire box of a boiler, comprising a body portion having sidc extensions formed by a continuation of said portion and holes in said extensions, some of said holes being for the reception of water tubes and other holes being for the reception of removable plugs to provide access to said water tubes.

7. A header for use in mounting water tubes in the tire box of a boiler, comprising a body portion having side extensions formed by a continuation of said portion and holes in said extensions, for the reception of water tubes.

A header for use in mounting water tubes in the lire box of a boiler, comprising a body portion having side extensions formed by a continuation of said portion and holes in said extensions for the reception of water tubes and means extending across said extensions for resisting the bursting stress upon said body portion.

S). A header for use in mounting water tubes in the tire' box of a boiler, comprising a body portion formed in two parts, side flanges on each of said parts spaced from each other and flanges on said side flanges, each of said second named flanges on one part being united to the corresponding flange on the other part to form a chamber with said side flanges.

10. A header for use in mounting water tubes in the fire box of a boiler, comprising a body portion formed in two parts, side flanges on each of said parts spaced from each other and flanges on said side flanges, each of said second named flanges on one part being telescopcd with and united to the correspondin flange on the other part to form a cham or with said side flanges.

11. A header for u e in mounting water each other and flanges on said side flanges,

each of said second named flanges on one part being secured to the corresponding ange on the other part to form a chamber with said side flanges, and strengthenin plates extending across said side flanges an united to said parts of the body resist the bursting stress on said tion. a 12. A header for use in mounting water of a boiler, comprising a body portion formed in two parts, side flanges on each of said parts spaced from each other and flanges on said side flange,

ortion to stren hening plates extendin responding flange on "stren hening platesextendin across said side each of said second named flanges on one art, be united to the corresponding ange on't e other part to form a chamber with said side flanges, and foraminous :across said is; anges and united to sai parts of the s'ai body portion.

tubes in the fire box of a boiler, comprising a body portion having side extensions formed by a continuation of said ortion and plovided with oppositely disposed holes for the reception of plugs and said tubes, respectively, and; means extending across said extensions ibliresisting the bursting stress upon said body portion.

= 14. A'heafvder for uselin mounting water tubes in the 'fire box of a boiler, comprising a body portion formed in twoparts, side flanges on each of said parts spaced from each other and provided with oppositely I dis osed holes for the'reception of plugs and sai tubes, respectivel and flanges onvsaid side flanges, each 0 said second named flanges on one part being united to the correspondingflange on the other art to form a chamber with said. side anges, and across sai sai parts of the side angesand united-to bursting streg on bod portion to resist the sai 'body portion. 15. A headerfor use in'mounting water tubes inthe fire box ofa boiler,- a body portion formed in two parts, side flanges on each of said parts spaced from each other and provided with op ositely disposed holes for the reception 0 plugs and said tubes, pectivel and flanges-on said side flanges, each 0 said-second named flanges on one part the other art to form said side lates extendin a. chamber with iorammous stren hening anges'an stress on said y portion.

portion to resist the bursting stress on by -fwiiter tubes connecting said extensions'and 13. A header for use in mounting water" sideextensions on each of said comprising being united to the cor-.

anges, and

' united to sai parts of the body'iortion to resist the burstg 16. In a firebox for a boiler, the combination with the tube sheet and back Water Is of upper and lower headers connecting sald tu e sheet and leg to form passages ,between said sheet and said leg, said upper headers comprising side extensions formed a continuation of the header shell, and

lower headers.

17, In a fire box for a boiler, the combination with the tube sheet and back water leg, of upper and lower headers connecting said tube sheet and leg to form passages betweensaid sheet and said leg, each of said upper headers comprising side extensions formed b a continuation of the header shell, water tu es connecting said extensions and lower headers, said sheet and leg having flanges embracing and united to said upper headers and the bottoms andtops of the extensions thereof and to the sides-of the extensions adjacent the sides of the fire box, andfillers united to said flanges and to the abutting side of the remaining extensions. 18. A header for use in mounting water tubes in the fire box of a boi1er,|comprising parts, and arts formed bya continuationthereof, a side extension on one part being telescoped and united a body portion formed in two with the corresponding extension on the other part.

19. A header for use in1mounting water tubes in the fire box of a boiler, comprising a body portion formed'in two parts, side extensionson each of said parts formed by a continuation thereof, the side extension on one part being telescoped and united with the corresponding extension on the other part, and strengt across said extensions for resisting the bursting ns'tress upon saidbody portions.

. testimony whereof, we aflix our signatures.

GEORGE H. EMERSON.

OLIVER O. CROMWELL.

hening plates disposed 

